Rose Teas

Roses have been kept in the cupboards of many homes, apothecaries, and restaurants for centuries in many forms: dried, frozen, or fresh as hips, petals, or buds. Buds and petals have a more subtle flavor to them, and are used in light, mellow dishes to add a simple floral note. Rose hips, on the other hand, are the fruits produced by rosebushes after flowers have faded, and have a more citrusy, tart flavor than their counterparts. All parts of the rose flowerhead are healthy, tasty additions to many dishes, but today, we're talking tea.

Rose Petal Tea

There are many benefits of rose petal tea, including anxiety reduction, improving digestion, soothing menstrual cramping, reducing overall inflammation, and of course for its antimicrobial properties and antioxidant content. Rose tea is prepared and consumed in many ways, either with the petals alone or in combination with other flavors such as raspberry, lavender, orange blossom, Melissa leaves, or Calendula petals.

Roses are in bloom from the end of winter through the first frosts of fall in some areas, and therefore have a very long period during which they can be harvested for their petals. The more fragrant a rose is, the better flavor and aroma its petals will release when steeped in water. Rose petals are typically harvested soon after the flower fully opens, in the early afternoon. The best time of day to pick a rose for its petals is between when the dew dries and when the warmer afternoon temperatures set in. Individual petals can be picked from flowers or the flowers can be cut stem by stem and removed from the bush. Place cut flower stems in cool water after harvesting to prolong the life of the petals before processing. After removing the petals from their attachments, they can be dried in a number of ways and stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark cupboard for a year or more. They can also be steeped fresh. For more information on roses and using processing their edible parts, check out the following pages:

Plant Page: Rosa

Edimentals: Rose (Rosa)

As mentioned above, either fresh or dried rose petals can be used to make a tea. A dried rose petal tea will create a yellow-beige beverage with a lovely rose fragrance. A fresh rose petal flower infusion in hot water will create a brightly-colored drink (the color is dependent on the shade of the petals themselves and the intensity of the color is dependent on how long the petals are steeped for). 

To make a Simple Rose Petal Tea, follow the instructions below:

1. ​​Gather a fresh rose from the garden and pick off the petals, then rinse them. Alternatively, use dried rose petals.
2. Portion out 2 cups of petals (unpacked to gently packed). Place them in the teapot with 3 cups of boiling water.
3. Put the lid on and allow the petals to steep for between 20 and 30 minutes, sampling at 20 minutes for taste. The longer the tea steeps, the stronger the flavor will be.
4. The tea can then be enjoyed hot with a splash of lemon juice or some honey, or allowed to chill in the refrigerator to create an iced beverage later on.
5. Rose Tea will last about 4 days in the refrigerator. 

RoseHip Tea

Rosehip tea is created using the fruits produced by rose shrubs which are harvested in late summer or fall. Rose hips have a floral flavor to them, just like rose petals, but also have a sweet, tangy flavor that is reminiscent of citrus. Rosehip Tea, when brewed with fresh rose hips, is high in antioxidants and vitamin C, and can help with inflammation and encourage a healthy skin glow. For important information on how to harvest and process rose hips safely, see our Edimental Series blog post on Roses by clicking the button below:

Edimentals: Rose (Rosa)

To make a Simple Rosehip Tea, follow the instructions below:

1. Place about 8-10 intact rosehips in a pot and cover them with 3 cups of boiling water. Alternatively, you can use dried rosehips (use about a cup of them). Let it sit for about ten minutes.
2. Using a fork or similar tool, squish the hips to extract more of their flavor. This will break them open and release the small hairs inside of the fruits that can be irritating to some; make sure to strain the tea through a cheesecloth or coffee strainer to remove them before consuming.
3. The tea can then be enjoyed hot with a splash of lemon juice or some honey, or allowed to chill in the refrigerator to create an iced beverage later on.
   
4. This tea will last about 4 days in the refrigerator. 

After making rose petal tea or rose hip tea for the first time and enjoying these beverages hot and cold, you'll start to get a real feel for the flavor, and learn what flavor intensity you like. Keep in mind that both rose hips and rose petals can really be added to any tea to add a sweet, subtle floral flavor.

Until next time!
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Resources and References

Flower Power: Rose Tea and Rosehip Tea Benefits